Wet weather braking.

[Stu]

Originally Posted by Pedro68

3. approaching traffic lights @ about 30mph - amber not working - suddenly went red, and managed to do a small stoppie (front brakes are quite powerful enough on the SV )
.

Did you not get a clue when the green light switched off that red was coming?

[flymo]

Really dont want to appear like I'm preaching and I'm certainly no Rossi, but I have spent a long time racing and braking is a fairly important part of the technique

It all depends on the situation you find youself in but the front will slow you down much faster than the rear, and in a much shorter distance.

The point about using front/back 60/40 etc is true and I've used it but it is much more difficult to perfect than you'ld expect. In a race we do use this technique but it tends to be for very hard braking at the end of a straight and before the bike is leaned over. All other times its 100% front, wet or dry.

The important thing is to not unsettle the bike as it also reduces grip. If you end up in the situation when some tosser pulls out on you then I'm afraid its probably down to you not expecting the move and being too close/fast etc. It doesnt need to be your fault, but I reckon you can plan for most things and ride defensively to counter it.

I've also seen many many errors in a race where the guy goes too fast into the corner and hits the brakes causing him to crash. In almost all cases the bike will go around the corner if you leave the brakes alone and go with it.

Overall though it really is amazing just how hard you can brake, wet or dry. I regularly see and do myself, brake to the extent that the back lifts very slightly. Thats racing though, but what it does show is that its possible to brake extremely hard provided that you are smooth but firm.

I remember watching a mate of mine crash into Anglesey hairpin, he told me later that his brakes had failed. I had a perfect side on view of the crash and I saw his front wheel stopped totally for about 50 yards! Nothing wrong with the brakes there then

Originally Posted by Stu

Did you not get a clue when the green light switched off that red was coming?

Green lights out means go (well in F1 it does )
Ok, poor obs on that occasion ... lesson learnt

[RingDing]

Originally Posted by jambo

From the "Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy": "Don't Panic"

I find wearing a pair of Joo Janta 200 Super-Chromatic Peril Sensitive Sunglasses helps with this.